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11 Ideas for Easier Recycling at Home

Recycling in the most basic terms can be described as reuse of material as opposed to disposing of the material. Plastics, aluminum, paper, steel and different other materials can be recycled into new products in cost and energy efficient ways.

Recycling is an earth-friendly practice among other “go-green” practices that drive to reverse the adverse effects that have culminated in devastating environmental conditions such as droughts, famine, floods, global warming etc.

Beyond saving raw material, creating new material from recycled material saves a significant amount of energy as compared to making new material from virgin material. On top of this, the need for landfills and incinerators is significantly reduced reducing ground and air pollution as well as land gauge. Furthermore, recycling creates more jobs than landfills and incinerators.

Recycling is effective, simple and can be made into a fun practice for the whole family. The process should simply start by researching on what can and cannot be recycled and how it should be sorted and packaged while identifying where to dispose of hazardous materials. Different areas have different rules on recycling in as to how the recycled materials should be cleaned, sorted and packaged.

Focusing on your home, there are different ways you could employ for easy recycling. You should, however, realize that the key to establishing a recycling program that is successful at home is to create a system that works specifically for you and your family. You should consider all members of the family and make it fun to do, especially for the young ones.

1. Pull-out Bins. This particular method will go a long way to ensure convenience in recycling. This method basically involves you getting some labeled bins as per to how you would require the materials recycled and a visible space in your house. Place the bins in the space and one would only require to pull out the right bin, throw and you are done.

This method is particularly useful when you have little ones running around the house. They too can access the bins easily. Bins with casters are most effective. Once done, the bins can be slid out of sight.

2. Vertical Bins. Space may not be easily available especially when you are in an urban setting. A vertical bin setting, however, saves on space as it allows you to recycle material.

This will require you to hook bins to the wall, one on top of the other, making sorting and storage easy and efficient.

3. Paint Bins. This might be the most fun for the young ones. On top of recycling, you get to have fun with the little ones.

Take the old trashcans around your home and get some friendly paint and call the little ones out and start painting. Simple and fun. The young ones will be more invested in this and will actually find it fun sorting out the materials for recycling. What’s more, your home will have more color.

4. You may not have young ones around your home, or may not be one for some painting action. You can go for some printable labels to go right onto the bins to help you sort things out first.

5. Away from bins, you could also get some “color-coded” trash bags to help you conveniently sort out your recyclables.

6. If you are into building, you could use that and create a wooden recycling center outside your house. This will constitute partitioned compartments that can hold removable bins where designated materials may be placed for recycling.

7. Collect paper around the house and take them to designated drop off points for recycling.

8. You can make use of compost for biodegradable materials like fruit peels and left-over vegetables. Don’t worry about the smell, most composts come with filters to keep in the bad smell. The compost can later be taken to landfills.

9. Passing on electronics is the simplest way to recycle electronics. However, for those that cannot be passed on, you could easily collect and dispose of at designated areas, donate or even resell.

10.Commingling. This method of sorting does not require any sorting. Simply put everything in one can and the sorting will be done by the recyclers. This method, however, may not be available in all locales. Some materials may also need to be cleaned properly before disposal to avoid contamination.

11. Reuse of some material is the best way to recycle. Reducing the amount of disposable material, you acquire also goes a long way.

The recycling culture may not catch up right away. In the beginning, you may need to sort-out materials into the right bins. It will not take long for the entire family to learn where the recycling goes exactly and use it regularly.